LLANESCA T. PANTI, TMT

“STORM or no storm, Tacloban City is ready and eager to meet Pope Francis.” Thus declared Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Romualdez as tropical depression “Amang” threatens to bring heavy rain that could dampen the scheduled Papal visit to this typhoon-ravaged city on Saturday. Romualdez said the people’s faith in God and…

Elections for officials of the proposed Bangsamoro Region should be postponed to 2019 for better transition, according to soldiers-turned-lawmakers. Congressmen Ashley Acedillo and Gary Alejano, both from Magdalo party-list, pitched their suggestion to the House of Representatives’ Ad Hoc Committee on the Bangsamoro, which is yet to approve a committee…

DELICADEZA (sense of propriety) is all that stands between Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima and his resignation as PNP head. “A resignation will be (Purisima’s) personal decision because we have different levels of delicadeza. We cannot impose it. The appointment of the PNP chief is a prerogative of the…

Congress won’t hastily revoke the franchise to operate of Cebu Pacific Airlines even if the carrier messed up schedules and bookings on Christmas Eve, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and exhausted, Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento of Western Samar, vice chairman of the House transportation committee, said on Friday. The franchise…

The proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law has at least 10 provisions that are unconstitutional. This was disclosed on Tuesday by Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City, chairman of the House Ad-Hoc Committee on the Bangsamoro, after the panel concluded at least 30 hearings and consultations on the proposed bill.…

A modest P1,500 monthly allowance for volunteer workers in Philippine barangays is proposed at the House of Representatives. Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, vice chairman of the Good Government and Public Accountability panel, made the pitch under House Bill 5005 or the Barangay Volunteer Workers Act, noting that the workers…

MALACAÑANG will not fire Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) over the Commission on Audit (COA) report that at least P1 billion of the Conditional Cash Transfer program for the poor went to ghost beneficiaries. Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte defended Soliman, noting…

The public has been warned against erroneous land titles in light of ongoing upgrade of the computerization system of the Land Registration Authority (LRA). Albay Rep. Al Francis Bichara made the call under his House Bill 1667, which seeks a probe of problematic LRA-issued land titles that burden legitimate land…

An expanded anti-graft law that would penalize the corrupt in the private sector has been proposed in the House of Representatives. Rep. Sherwin Tugna and Rep. Cinchona Cruz-Gonzales, both from Citizens Battle Against Corruption party-list, made the pitch under their House Bill (HB) 5298, which seeks punishment of any person…

Lawmaker slams Maynilad, Manila Water for passing on taxes to consumers THE approved increases in water rates by concessionaires Maynilad and Manila Water should be voided for being unfair to consumers, according to House Minority Leader Neri Colmenares of Bayan Muna party-list. He made the call on Tuesday in light…